Zias hope to change fortunes

PORTALES — Sia Poyer knows Eastern New Mexico University well, having graduated from the school and served as an assistant volleyball coach for 14 years.

Poyer, who has spent the past eight seasons at Valdosta (Ga.) State, is determined to get the Zias back on track.

His work is definitely cut out.

Since losing in the NCAA Division II regional final at Nebraska-Kearney in 2004, the Zias have gone just 55-184 (.230) over the past eight seasons. In Lone Star Conference play, they are a stunning 10-99 (.092), with three winless seasons and three others with just one victory.

Poyer, married to former ENMU volleyball and basketball standout Jennifer Goble, missed all of that. During his time as an assistant under Mike Maguire, the Zias were 187-81.

He’s not paying any attention to the team’s recent history.

“I don’t really look at it that way,” he said. “Most of the kids are JC (junior college) transfers, so they’ve only been here for a year.

“We have our team goals. We want to get to the conference tournament and win a conference championship.”

ENMU opens the 2013 campaign with four matches this weekend in a tournament at Midwestern State.